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Friday, April 27, 2018

Microsoft is
working on a new edition of Windows 10 which internally calls 'Windows 10 Lean'.
It could be considered as Windows 10 on diet, once installed, is a whole 2GB's
smaller in size compared to a normal edition of Windows 10.

Why is Microsoft
building on Windows 10 Lean? Microsoft is facing a problem when it comes to
keeping devices with a low amount of storage up to date with the latest Windows10 feature updates. Usually, cheap, low-end tablets and laptops with 16GB of
internal storage will find themselves stuck on the version of Windows 10 that
those devices shipped with, because there's not enough storage space to apply
any new feature updates. It is important for Microsoft to ensure that these
devices can install new versions of Windows 10.

Windows 10 Lean
aims to fix this problem. For a device with a small of storage, it strips out
things users won't need, such as the Registry Editor, Internet Explorer etc. It's
still the same old Windows system, just streamlined so that it better fits on
devices with smaller internal storage. Windows 10 Lean does not remove support
for legacy apps, meaning it still has full Win32 app support if you need it.
Other than the differences mentioned above, it's still legacy Windows at the
end of the day.

However, Windows 10 Lean is very buggy in the latest Redstone 5 builds, and still in
development internally.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

There is a good
news for people who like various night modes. With the latest Insider Preview
build featuring references to a work-in-progress dark mode, Microsoft is finally
adding a dark mode to File Explorer on Windows 10.

Windows 10's
dark mode is an awesome feature that allows people to switch most apps and
system elements into a darker theme, which is easier on the eyes, and looks
awesome. Unfortunately, the dark mode in Windows 10 has been rather
inconsistent in where it is applied; when dark mode is enabled you can find it
in most system apps, a few third party apps, and a few system elements. However,
it was always missing from the File Explorer.

But this problem
won't be lasting for long time, because Microsoft is trying to bring support
for dark mode to the File Explorer on Windows 10. It's the full, fat, Win32
File Explorer, and it's getting the dark mode treatment. Early References of this new dark mode can
be found in the latest Redstone 5 Insider build, but it isn't fully enabled in
that branch yet. Microsoft is working on this feature internally.

Once
ready, enabling dark mode in File Explorer is done with the system-wide toggle
found in the Windows Settings app, which makes all your other apps dark too.
The screenshot above is of an early version of dark mode in File Explorer,
which maybe change before it's finalized.

Coincidentally, the source code of WebKit shows it seems that Mac OS 10.14 is also going to support the true night mode.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Microsoft has demoted build 17133 from RTM
status internally, which means it has compiled another Redstone 4 build at the
last minute that it is hoping will be stable enough to pass the criteria for
rollout to the public. That build is now rolling out to Insiders in the Fast
ring for testing as build 17134, and includes no new features.

As Build 17133 progressed through the rings, Microsoft
discovered some reliability issues they wanted to fix. In certain cases, these reliability
issues could have led to a higher percentage of (BSOD) on PCs for example.
Instead of creating a Cumulative Update package to service these issues, Microsoft
decided to create a new build with the fixes included.

Microsoft says it found reliability issues with
build 17133 during testing and an undisclosed blocking bug just a few days
before Redstone 4 was supposed to begin official rollout. So Microsoft delays
the public release indefinitely, and demote build 17133 from RTM status. Now,
build 17134 is Microsoft's next attempt at an RTM build.

Build 17134 is already available on Xbox One,
and will soon be available on HoloLens and IoT as well. If build 17134 reaches
the necessary criteria, this will be the build that rolls out to the public
later this month.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Microsoft was
expected to roll out Windows 10 Spring Creators Update Official Version (RTM) on
April 10th but postponed. On April 11th, Microsoft had roll out a cumulative
update of Windows 10 RS4 Preview 17133.73, which in fact had confirmed that
Build 1733 is a Windows 10 Spring Creators Update Version (RTM). But it will
take time before it is rolled out by Microsoft.

Microsoft discovered a
blocking bug last weekend, although it was very rare but enough to affect the
release and rollout of Windows 10 Spring Creator Update Version until the
problem is completely resolved. Microsoft owns an intern testing system which
requring every rollout and release of major system versions must passing it.
This bug was found in Windows 10 fast, slow, and release previews version.

It is worth noticing that the Windows 10 Build
17133 version will still be RTM, and Microsoft will fix the vulnerability
through a cumulative update. By tradition, Microsoft will announce the official
name of Windows 10 Version 1803 in advance, but this time Microsoft has
remained silence. Perhaps in the near future, Microsoft will announce the
official name of Win10 1803 version and the exact date of rollout.